'W' Air Formation Signals left Liverpool on April 15th, 1942, and sailed via Freetown, Durban and Bombay to Basra. Landed on June 18th but although the ship was expected, no arrangements had been made for the onward movement of men or equipment. The temperature was 118oF so all work was suspended until 5.00pm. There were several cases of heatstroke and one, Driver Archibald, died.

3 WSS (214 Gp, Shaibah), 13 WSS (215 Gp, Mosul) and 29 WSS (Abadan) were already in the area as 1 Coy, 6 AFS (OC Maj CO Sanders) and these came under command of HQ 'W' AFS which was then renamed UHQ 6 AFS and moved to Habbaniyah. After these changes 29 WSS was commanded by 2/Lt GG Hill and formed part of 3 Company commanded by Major Rycroft. 6 AFS was commanded by Lt Col EB Tinney who had travelled with, and commanded, 'W' AFS.

On June 13th, 1943, the bulk of 6 AFS moved to MEF leaving 3 Coy (with 19 & 29 WSS) to assume all 6 AFS residual responsibilities in Iraq and Persia. Under the command of Maj AA Kriegel the unit was re-designated AFS PAIFORCE with HQ in Baghdad. 29 WSS (Lt RK Russell) covered Central and Northern Iraq and Northern Persia whilse 19 WSS (Lt LE Page) covered Southern Iraq and the Persian Gulf. By December 10th RAF Baghdad had closed down, 19 WSS moved to Habbaniya and 29 WSS had rejoined 6 AFS in Italy.